Murray McCully

Wellington, Dec 21 NZPA - New Zealand's Acting High Commissioner to Fiji remains in the troubled Pacific nation tonight after reported threats to expel her went unfulfilled.

A senior Fiji government official said yesterday Caroline McDonald would be sent home today.

She was not.

The Fijilive website was now reporting there was no official timing for her expulsion.

Self-appointed Prime Minister Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama's permanent secretary Parmesh Chand said "when the time is right, we will be issuing a statement to that effect".

Commodore Bainimarama told the New Zealand Government last week Ms McDonald would be ordered to leave Fiji unless a visa was granted to George Nacewa, the son of a senior official in Suva, so he could finish his studies at Massey University.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully told Cdre Bainimarama on Tuesday the visa would not be granted, and then explained his government's position in a phone call.

George Nacewa previously studied in New Zealand, but was banned from entering the country under the Government's post-coup ban on visas for top members of the ruling military and their families.

The previous High Commissioner, Michael Green, was expelled in June 2007 and the latest move is being seen as a sign of a further deterioration in the relationship between the two countries.

Mr Nacewa's father, Rupeni Nacewa, is the official secretary to the president and has held the post since the previous government was in power, Fijilive reported.

The daughter of permanent secretary for health Lepani Waqatakirewa was also caught with visa problems. She was also a tertiary student in New Zealand.

NZPA WGT kc rq